holiness is humble
holiness, and in honour preferreth others.

There is a great fault among those who have fled to Christ's righteousness
in justification, that they use to come full from duties, as a stomach
from a honeycomb. Ofttimes we make our liberty and access to God the
ground of our acceptation; and according to the ebbings and flowings of
our inherent righteousness, so doth the faith and confidence of
justification ebb and flow. Christians, this ought not to be; in so doing,
you make your own righteousness your righteousness before God; for when
the unsatisfaction in the point of duty maketh you question your interest
so often, is not the satisfaction of your minds in duties made the ground
of your pleading interest? Give you liberty and access, you can believe
anything; remove it, and you can believe nothing. Certainly this is a
sandy foundation,--you ought to build nothing on performances, you should
be as vile in your own eyes, and think your nakedness as open, when you
come nearest God, when you have most liveliness, as when he hideth his
face, and duty withereth. Will filthy rags be your ornament? No,
Christians. Be more acquainted with the unspotted righteousness of the
immaculate Lamb of God, and find as great necessity of covering your
cleanest duties with it, as your foulest faults, and thus shall you be
kept still humble and vile in your own eyes, and have continual employment
for Christ Jesus. Your best estate should not puff you up, and your worst
estate should not cast you down; therefore be much in the search of the
filthiness of your holy actions. This were a spiritual study, a noble
discovery to unbowel your duties, to divide them, and to give unto God
what is God's, and take unto yourselves what is your own. The discovery of
filthiness in them needeth not hinder his praise; and the discovery of
grace in them needeth not mar your shame. God hath most glory when we have
most shame; these two grow in just proportion,--so much is taken from God
as is given to the creature.

_Thirdly_, We would also press you from this ground to long much to be
clothed upon with immortality, to put off the filthy rags of time and
earth-righteousness, and to be clothed upon with the white robes of the
righteousness of the saints. As you would dwell near the fountain here,
and be still washing your garments, and offering all your sacrifices in
him who sanctifieth all, so would you pant and thirst for this spotless
g